TitleNews Online Archive

TitleNews Online Archive

Old Republic to Incur Special Charges of $25.5 Million Against 2004 Results

January 24, 2005

CHICAGO, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI), today announced that it would record special post tax charges of approximately $25.5 million, or 14 cents per share in its fourth quarter and year end 2004 results due to be released on Thursday, January 27, 2005. Nearly 75% of the charge represents an increase of reserves previously posted and stems from a ruling on January 20 by the California Court of Appeals affirming a prior trial court verdict against Old Republic Title Company. The remainder covers a write down of previously deferred acquisition costs applicable to a life insurance product discontinued near year-end 2004.

For the first nine months of 2004, Old Republic reported diluted net operating earnings per share of $1.73 and net income of $1.81. For all of 2003 such earnings were $2.44 and $2.51 respectively, and for the final quarter of 2003, they were $0.59 and $0.62, respectively.